Ivy-Lee Talks Identity, Independence, and “Heart On The Line”

Ivy-Lee’s music exists in the space where vulnerability meets intention. As an emerging voice in the indie pop landscape, she has built a sound defined by emotional honesty, layered harmonies, and atmospheric production that feels both intimate and expansive.

Drawing from early pop influences and years of live performance, Ivy-Lee has steadily shaped an artistic identity rooted in self-reflection and authenticity rather than trend-chasing.

With her debut EP, 'Heart On The Line,' Ivy-Lee enters a pivotal moment in her journey. The project captures years of growth, creative risk, and personal recalibration, balancing the realities of independent artistry with deeply personal storytelling.

In this conversation below, Ivy-Lee opens up about vulnerability, creative evolution, and what it means to keep showing up with her heart fully exposed.

This track feels like your emotional thesis statement. What moment in your life sparked the idea for “Heart On The Line”

Ooh, a range of life experiences really - I couldn't attribute it to one specific moment, but could say that the track was triggered by a feeling of burden mixed with being misunderstood, even when my intentions have been genuine. Growing up, I have been someone who enjoys bringing people from diverse groups together, and fostering connectivity and inclusivity - most of the time, this has cultivated new friendships. I loved to host gatherings or mesh different friend groups together.

On occasion, I have inadvertently done the opposite, or missed a detail which caused a flow of affect, and have felt the repercussions of this. However, through growth and a strong sense of identity and grounding in myself and my values, I have come to realise you are not everyone's cup of tea and you cannot please everyone - all you can do is remain authentically you (as long as you are fair and kind) - which is what this song is about.

Heart On The Line is a lovely stepping stone from my debut single 'If I Fall', which explored identity crisis, uncertainty, the hurt of being taken advantage of, and feeling lost whilst navigating identity in new or unknown environments. I think the song demonstrates maturity and clarity in oneself.

As someone who feels deeply, how do you balance vulnerability with protecting your peace while making music

As a musician, I am considered in both my writing style and musical approach. When you listen to my music, it is like listening to a vulnerable, yet carefully curated (but not inauthentic) diary or series of journal entries that come together in a story. I haven't been someone to journal in a traditional sense, and tend to be introspective, and seek guidance or comfort in my close networks - therefore, once it comes into the musical or lyrical space, it's like I've breathed meaning and impact back into a retrospective story or experience rather than using it as an intense or reactive outlet.

In songwriting, I am thoughtful and wary in ways that lyricism can be interpreted by each unique listener. This can be both in ways that are surprising and comforting, or in ways that are misconstrued - so I love to balance poetic metaphors and visuals to create a tangible experience for my listeners, whilst being careful and selective in the language I use to tell a story. Also note that I released my EP 2-3 years after the inception of the songs, such as Heart On The Line - so whilst it reflects an inherent and still present experience, I have been able to process it throughout the journey, from writing, to production, to release. I think this retrospective approach and thoughtful lyricism help protect my peace.

You built this EP over two and a half years. How did your sound and self evolve during that period

I would say my sound became more grounded and clarified. I continued to explore and experiment, and stayed true to what I truly wanted the outcome of the EP to sound like, rather than over-imitating artists or styles I was inspired by before I properly entered the music production space. I leaned into the power of the lyricism and the feeling I had when writing each individual song, and wanted to have each song act as an episode or journal entry of a broader series or diary. I was inspired by cinematic sounds and the way they make people feel, and the way they evoke an emotional response from their listeners/viewers. The sound across my EP is consistent, leans into the pop-sphere, and is dynamically driven vocally and instrumentally. I think the biggest evolution is really in the songwriting style and my ability to be completely honest.

What did working with Bunkr Creative unlock for you creatively on this final track? I have worked with Bunkr Creative for all my releases so far, and I feel working with him has been a journey - he was there from the beginning, when I had zero production experience, through to this most recent project. Knowing me, and my personal and musical journey, meant that Bunkr Creative was intuitive and receptive to my vision, and collaborated with me to both deliver upon the storytelling and emotive elements, as well as finesse my sound over the span of a few years. He's truly talented, and I would work with him all over again.

What do you hope listeners who struggle with sensitivity or self-doubt take away from this song?

I hope my listeners embrace sensitivity and softness, deepen their understanding of their emotions, and harness this to empower people around them. With anything, I like to preach self-awareness - It's great to take back your story, or rewrite perceived weaknesses as strengths, but with anything, I do believe in balance and give/take. I hope that society can continue to soften to embrace emotional depth and sensitivity, and create an understanding that these feelings are not to be confused with weakness, but rather can be used to create community, empathy, and kindness.